Make-up machine



s- 1934- G. D. MARCY 1,969,669

MAKE-UP months 91166 May 5; 1952 l at ent ed Aug. 7, Y 1934 UNITED STATES r) caries 18 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for making up columns or pages of type matter for printing. I'he several columns of type matter on a page should exactly correspond in length and the individual slugs thereof must be squarely positioned in the columns, since ifone column is even slightly shorter than another it will notbe held securely'when the page is locked up in the form for printing and the type'may fall out in moving or work up and become displaced in printing. r

The slug output of composing machines varies slightly in thickness and since these variations are cumulative when the type is assembled in a long column, it is necessary to measure each column accurately, at the same time pressing the type matter together with considerable force to be sure that the slugs are exactly upright and not held apart by particles of dust or metal shavings. Heretofore, no adequate mechanism has been provided for performing these. operations and they have, therefore, been. carried out mostly by hand. Under such conditions the results have depended entirelyupon the physical 2:5 exertion and skill of the operator, Failure of the operator to bring the slugs into tight engagement with each other and to make the columns of the right length has caused much trouble in printing, since the permissible variation is so slightas to be not readily detected bythe eye, and the com-. pressing or compacting force exerted, by the operators is likely to vary to a degree causing material variation in the columns. The object of my invention is to provide ,a machine for making up these columns of type matter accurately-and in a manner relieving the operator from the ex acting requirements above discussed andwhich shall be effective in eliminating the errors hereto fore resulting from his shortcomings. The machine of my invention, in apreferred embodiment, includes mechanism for supporting one or more columns of slugs or other type matter and for compressing the columns to bring the slugs into compact relation, together ,with means for indicating automatically. the variation of each column from the standard length set for the column. Having such information,leads orspacing material corresponding. in thickness to the measured variation may be inserted orre- 5O moved by the operator to bring the column to the proper length. Another object of 'myinve'ntion is to provide such a machine in which the columns may be squeezed sufliciently to flattenfoutmetal ohipsor foreign particles between the slugs and bring the type matter squarelytogethen with a force substantially equal to that exertedon the column when locked up for the press, and by means of which the columns may be quickly and accurately brought to, the proper or standard length for printing; i

' These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selectedfor purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a machine embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan view thereof on a larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of an operating portion of the machine; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail viewshowing an adjustable graduated member.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, the frame 10 of the machine, is supported at convenient height on legs 12 and has a plane top' supporting surface'or plate 14 forthe type matter. The headstock portion of the machine is carried by apair of upright plates 16, illustrated as bolted to the opposite sides of the frame. (30- operating Withthis headstock portion is abackstop portion 18 adjustable toward and from the headstock, it being understood that the portion 18 is. smaller and, therefore, more easily adjustable and'that the headstock may be made the adjustablejportion, if desirable. The backstop comprises two independent blocks or -meznbers 20 slidably mounted at. the opposite sides of the top plate 14 and each carrying a pawl 22 for engaging rack teeth 24 out into the edge portions of the plate 14, springs 26 normally holding the pawls in engagement with the teeth. A backstop bar 28 ispivoted to. one of the members 20 and its free end is engageablewithin a recess 30 in the other member, the bar being movable to the positions indicated in full and broken lines in Fig. 1.

The upright plates 16 are slotted horizontally at 32 to receive the reduced ends of a ram or presser bar 34' extending transversely across the machine and having a'plane vertical front'face 36. Two pinions 38 on a transverse shaft 40 journalled in the plates 16 engage rack teeth 12 in opposite ends of the presser bar in amanner moving the presser bar when the shaft is rotated. A torsion spring 44 normally rotates the shaft in a reverse direction keeping the presser bar in its rearmost position, and the presser bar may be moved forwardly against the action of the spring by depressing a. foot treadle 46 connected by a in Fig. 4.

graduated member can be rotatably adjusted rod 48 to a crank arm 50 on the left end of the shaft.

The type matter to be made up is placed on the top plate 14 and is compressed against the backstop 28 by one or more presser members actuated by the presser bar 34. As many columns 51 of type matter may be made up simultaneously as are to enter into the finished page and independent presser members are respectively provided for the several columns. One or a plurality of these members may be mounted on the headstock portion of the machine, as will be seen from the following description; Extending across the machine above the plate 14 is a carrier comprising two parallel rods 52. having their ends supported in the upright plates 16 and the presser members are adjustably mounted on these rods." These members and their cooperating parts are identical and a description of one will, therefore, sufice.

Each presser member comprises a bar 54 having on its forward end a rectangular head 56 with a fiat type-engaging front face. The bar is slidably mounted in a block 58 supported'on and clamped to the carrier rods 52 by a bolt 60. The rear end of the bar 54 extends into and carries a sleeve 62. The rear end of the sleeve is closed by a threaded plug 64 and its forward end is closedby a bushing 66 for the bar and threaded into the sleeve, a stop collar 68 being pinned to the bar rearwardly of the bushing. A spring 70, surrounding the bar in the sleeve, normally forces the bar forwardly and the sleeve rearwardly, and

a spring 72 on the bar between the block 58 and bushing 66 tends to force both the bar and sleeve rearwardly.

Rack teeth74 are provided on the bar 54 adjacent to the head 56 and are engaged by a pinion '76 on a shaft 78 rotatably mounted in the blcck 58. The reduced outer end of this shaft carries agraduateddisk-shaped member or head 80, which is held frictionally to the shaft between two washers 82 and 84, adapted to be drawn into contact with the member by a nut'86, as shown The construction is such that the relative to the shaft. 1

As has been heretofore stated, the several columns 51 of type matter on a page to be printed must exactly correspond in length and the individual slugs or pieces thereof must be squarely positioned in the column if the type is to be securely held in the printing frame and accurately perform the printing operation. The

' operation of my improved machine whereby these requirements are carried out with accuracy will now be described. v

The operator first sets the machine to make up columns of the length desired, and this setting is performed by the use of a test block, as the metal frame 88, of a length correspondingto the correct page size. This block is placed on the surface 14 substantially as illustrated in Fig. 1, and the backstop 28 adjusted .to a position bringing the forward end of the block to a position near the presser heads 56, the backstop being held in this adjusted position by the pawls 22. The operator then depresses the foottreadle 48, thus bringing the presser heads against the block and holding it firmly against the backstop. While the parts are thus held under this pressure, the operator adjusts the graduated heads80, relative to their shaft 78, to zero position. Forward movement of the presser bar 34 by the treadle functionsthrough the relatively stiif springs 70 to advance the presser heads resiliently toward the backstop, and the extended portions 71 of the ,bars 54 prevent full compression and, therefore,

any setting of the springs 7c. The springs 72 function to hold the plugs 64 of the sleeves 62 against the flat front face 36 of the ram and to withdraw the presser heads when the treadle is released by the operator. The test block is thereafter removed and the machine is ready to operate. l I

Columns of type matter 51 approximating the desired column length are placed on the surface l i'against the backstop and in alignment with the presser heads 56, it being understood that the presser head blocks 58 have been set to proper transverse position on the carrier rods 52 in accordance with the width of the columnsto be made up. The operator then depresses the treadle 46, thus bringing the presser heads against the columns and pressing the type matter thereof with considerable force against the backstop. If desired, the treadle may be worked up and down and the several'columns of type mattersubjected to repeat-ed pressures, the type being positioned or added to the column to make .it exactly equal to the standard, .,.-.The members may be graduated to read directly in pointsi or half points,

and as the operator has spacing material of different point thicknesses conveniently. at hand he has merely to glance at the graduationsto .tell

which thickness .willabring the column toexact length. This operation is repeated with'all the columns. When the members 80 overall the'columnsread 'z'ero while the columns are fully compressed, the operator is assured that the columns are of the proper-length, "and furthermorethat the individual slugs thereof are properly located for correct printing.

- When the several columns have been made up on the surface'14,-the operator bindsathem together with string, or placesa page frame around them, to holdithe page together, then raises the backstop 28 to the broken line position of Fig. 1 and slides thepage directly onto' an adjoining apron 90, where an assistant may remove them, while the operator continues'on u sing the machine in making-up further pages. It is'belie'ved'that the novel features of construction, operationand advantage of my invention will now be appreciated, and it should be understood that the invention is not only useful in making up the pages but also saves time and trouble in the succeeding steps of printing by eliminating the necessity for correcting errors heretofore made.

Having thus described my invention, what I M claim as new'and'desire to secur'e'by Letters Patent is: n T

1. In a machineof the class described, means providinga' plane supporting surfacefor receivpressures, and means cooperating with the: type compressing-means to indicate automatically a measurement 'ofthecompressed "type matteif'm the directioniof its compression.

2.- In a machine of the class described;-'means providing a plane supporting surfacefor-receiving and holding type matter, means for compressing type matter thereon in one direction parallel to said surface and including a type-'eng'agingmem her, and a graduated scale member frictionally connected to saidtype-engaging member toindicate automaticallya "measurement of thecom pressed type matter in said direction,- said 1 fric tionalconnection permitting independent setting of the graduated member.

3. In a machine "of the class described, means providing a plane supporting surface for receiving and holding a plurality of columns of type matter, treadle-operated means including a plurality of independent elements operated thereby for imparting repeated compressing pressures to said columns in parallel directions upon the supporting surface, and means to indicate automatically independent measurements of said columns under compression.

4. A machine as set forth in claim 3, in which each of the column-compressing elements is provided with a resilient operating connection whereby to compress the columns resiliently.

5. A machine as set'forth in claim 3, plus a unitary means for operating all of said elements to perform the compressing operations simulta neously on all of said columns.

6. A machine as set forth in claim 3, wherein said elements are relatively adjustable toward and from each other across said surface transversely of the columns.

'7. In a machine of the class described, means providing a plane supporting surface for receiving and holding type matter, a backstop for said type matter, a member spaced from but movable toward and from the backstop, a foot treadle connection for moving the member toward the backstop, a type-engaging element located between the member and backstop, means providing a resiliently compressible connection between the movable member and the type-engaging element whereby depressing of said treadle connection serves tocompress type matter between said element and backstop, and means cooperating with said element toindicate automatically a measurement of the compressed type matter.

8. In a machine of the class described, means providing a plane supporting surface for receiving and holding type matter, a backstop for said type matter, a carrier member spaced from but movable toward and from the backstop, a plurality of type-engaging elements associated with said carrier member, a resiliently compressible connection between the carrier memer and each element whereby movement of the member toward the backstop is effective to compress type matter located between the type-engaging elements and backstop, means for moving the carrier member toward the backstop, and independent means cooperating with said type-engaging elements respectively to indicate automatically a measurement of the compressed type matter.

9. In a machine of the class described, a support for receiving and holding type matter, a backstop for type matter on the support, a carrier member movable toward and from the backstop, a plurality of type engaging elements associated with said carrier member and movable therewith, means providing a resiliently compressible connection between the carrier member and each element whereby movement of the carrier member toward the "backstop "is eiictiveto compress type matter located between the several elements and thebackstopfa plurality of transmission members respectively connected to and moved by said elements, aridfla plurality of "graduated members adjustablyconnected to the transmission members respectively to indicate automatically the measurments of l the type matter compressed by the-elements. v

" 10. 111 amachine of the class described, a plane support for receiving and holding type matter, a backstop for said type "matter, means for compressingit'ype matter on said support against the backstop, means for'indicating automatically a measurement of the compressed type matter, and

abutment extending across the support and adapted to position a plurality of columns of type matter, a mechanically operated carrier movable toward said abutment and equipped with a plurality of independently movable presser members, and means for indicating the position of each presser member when a plurality of columns are compressed by said members against the abutment.

13. In a machine of the class described, a supporting plate for type matter, mechanically-operated means for compressing type matter supported thereon in a direction parallel to the surface of the plate, means for indicating variations in the measurement of the compressed type matter with reference to a standard, and a backstop for the type matter adjustable to diiferent positions along the surface of the plate toward or from said compressing means.

14. A make-up machine comprising a type support, a rigid but adjustable abutment extending across the support and adapted to engage at one end a plurality of columns of type matter thereon, a presser bar movable across the surface of the support, a treadle for moving the presser bar toward the abutment, a spring for retracting the presser bar, separate presser members mounted on the presser bar and located to engage the other ends of the respective columns, and means for indicating the position of each presser member when the presser bar is advanced to engage them with said columns.

15. A make-up machine comprising a type support, a backstop, a presser bar movable across the support toward or from the backstop and having a continuous pressing face, and a plurality of measuring and pressing devices mounted in the presser bar for transverse adjustment to register with columns of type matter disposed upon the type support and arranged to be advanced in all positions of adjustment by the continuouspressing face of the presser bar.

16. A make-up machine comprising an elongated type-supporting plate, a backstop, a presser bar extending across the plate and having operating connections at its opposite ends for advancing it toward the backstop, spring means for retracting the presser bar, and a plurality of separate measuring and pressing devices distributed across the presser bar and arranged to act on columns of type matter arranged side by side on the supporting plate. a I

1'7. A make-up machine comprising as typesupporting plate, a treadle-operated head movably mounted at one end thereof and having a pressing surface, and a measuring and pressing devicemounted in advance of said pressing surface, operated by the movement thereof and including a yielding member extending rearwardly into contact with said pressing surface, a typeengaging member extending forwardly, and a graduated head arranged to be rotated by movement of the type-engaging member in opposition to the pressure of said yielding member.

- 18. A make-up machine vcomprising a typesupporting plate, a back stop thereon, a mechanically operated presser ,bar movably mounted near one end of the plate for. movement toward and from the back stop, a carrier member extending across the plate between said back stop and presser bar, and separatetype-engaging and measuring units adjustably supported upon said carrier member and arranged to be actuated in all their positions of adjustment by the movement of said presser bar. v GROSVENOR D. MARCY. 

